Comments on: Can I get a refund for my flight to Kenya? http://www.elliott.org/blog/can-i-get-a-refund-for-my-flight-to-kenya/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: tracey http://www.elliott.org/blog/can-i-get-a-refund-for-my-flight-to-kenya/comment-page-1/#comment-15098 tracey Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:21:55 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/can-i-get-a-refund-for-my-flight-to-kenya/#comment-15098 i am still trying to get my refund for my flight to nairobi during that time... ba is ridiculously trying to deny policy coverage. yet my friend with the exact itinerary received her refund right away. i am still trying to get my refund for my flight to nairobi during that time… ba is ridiculously trying to deny policy coverage. yet my friend with the exact itinerary received her refund right away.

]]> By: foxnomad http://www.elliott.org/blog/can-i-get-a-refund-for-my-flight-to-kenya/comment-page-1/#comment-9184 foxnomad Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:08:32 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/can-i-get-a-refund-for-my-flight-to-kenya/#comment-9184 The way I see it, if planes can fly there safely travel at your own risk. Unless there is a complete uprising or civil war, the airlines don't need to refund tickets. Otherwise there would be refunds after every 'security' event in every country in the world. The way I see it, if planes can fly there safely travel at your own risk.

Unless there is a complete uprising or civil war, the airlines don’t need to refund tickets. Otherwise there would be refunds after every ‘security’ event in every country in the world.

]]> By: E. Rogers http://www.elliott.org/blog/can-i-get-a-refund-for-my-flight-to-kenya/comment-page-1/#comment-8432 E. Rogers Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:05:42 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/can-i-get-a-refund-for-my-flight-to-kenya/#comment-8432 I think part of the issue here is that Brooks is basing his decisions on the advice of the U.S. Department of State (and on the media). It appears British Airways is basing its policies on the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office's travel advice. Why does it matter? Same issue, but the advice is different. The State Department has had a " travel warning" for Kenya in place for quite some time due to security concerns, one which does not specifically advise against travel to that country. The DoS issued a "travel alert" at the beginning of January due to the post-election violence (which was updated and reissued today). The FCO, on the other hand, has been updating its advice for Kenya very frequently, sometimes as much as two or three times a day. Its level of warning has been up and down all month. It's not surprising that BA's refund policies have changed as well (and travellers are confused!) The point is that every government responds to -- and communicates information about -- a situation in a different way. The U.S. Department of State offers great information, but so do the UK, Canada and Australia governments. Sometimes one government responds sooner than others. Sometimes they don't issue a warning about something at all. Bottom line: It's a good idea to check multiple sources when security is a concern... Especially when your travel service provider (or worse yet, travel insurance company) may be basing its policies on a different set of advice. I'd be curious to know more about this issue. Has anyone else experienced a problem like this? I think part of the issue here is that Brooks is basing his decisions on the advice of the U.S. Department of State (and on the media). It appears British Airways is basing its policies on the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s travel advice. Why does it matter? Same issue, but the advice is different.

The State Department has had a ” travel warning” for Kenya in place for quite some time due to security concerns, one which does not specifically advise against travel to that country. The DoS issued a “travel alert” at the beginning of January due to the post-election violence (which was updated and reissued today).

The FCO, on the other hand, has been updating its advice for Kenya very frequently, sometimes as much as two or three times a day. Its level of warning has been up and down all month. It’s not surprising that BA’s refund policies have changed as well (and travellers are confused!)

The point is that every government responds to — and communicates information about — a situation in a different way. The U.S. Department of State offers great information, but so do the UK, Canada and Australia governments. Sometimes one government responds sooner than others. Sometimes they don’t issue a warning about something at all.

Bottom line: It’s a good idea to check multiple sources when security is a concern… Especially when your travel service provider (or worse yet, travel insurance company) may be basing its policies on a different set of advice.

I’d be curious to know more about this issue. Has anyone else experienced a problem like this?

]]> By: Claire Walter http://www.elliott.org/blog/can-i-get-a-refund-for-my-flight-to-kenya/comment-page-1/#comment-8417 Claire Walter Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:22:08 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/can-i-get-a-refund-for-my-flight-to-kenya/#comment-8417 It sounds as if BA is more interested in keeping Richard Brooks' $1,400 than in keeping Richard Brooks as a customer. Wouldn't the airline be smart to give him credit (if not a refund), offer to rebook him elsewhere on their route system (presumably he has already made plans to travel during that timeframe) or otherwise accommodate him -- and others in the same situation? Are they really expecting the violence in Nairobi and the Rift Valley to be significantly better after Feb 11 than after Feb 8? Claire @ htp://travel-babel.blogspot.com It sounds as if BA is more interested in keeping Richard Brooks’ $1,400 than in keeping Richard Brooks as a customer. Wouldn’t the airline be smart to give him credit (if not a refund), offer to rebook him elsewhere on their route system (presumably he has already made plans to travel during that timeframe) or otherwise accommodate him — and others in the same situation? Are they really expecting the violence in Nairobi and the Rift Valley to be significantly better after Feb 11 than after Feb 8?

Claire @ htp://travel-babel.blogspot.com

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